Becoming a Professional Breeder: Is it too late?

Hey guys, I need some advice here. Let me explain my situation right now. I'm in my final year of high school. My plans for next year were to go to the university of Guelph for zoology. Just recently I recieved my midterm marks. I am sad to say, they are not university-worthy. I don't know what I will do if I don't get into university.

I would really love to become a professional reptile breeder. But I am just worried that its too late for someone like me. Every year more and more morphs are coming out and more and more prices are going down. Do you guys think that its possible for a kid like me to catch up to the big guys and actually make a living?

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Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

I would really love to become a professional reptile breeder. But I am just worried that its too late for someone like me. Every year more and more morphs are coming out and more and more prices are going down. Do you guys think that its possible for a kid like me to catch up to the big guys and actually make a living?

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I would say it isn't something you can jump into full time right away and expect to make a good enough living to make it worth while. But I think if you found another job and do reptile breeding on the side temporarily and keep building your collection and improving your collection with the money you make off you initial investment, then things MIGHT work out, all depends on how you play your cards. I am doing this on the side in my spare time, it isn't something I that I expect to make a full time job anytime soon because of the reasons I stated earlier. If one day down the road, things improve, and I am able to get to the point to where I can still support and improve my collection, and provide healthy, top quality animals to my customers, and make a good enough living to support my family and I, then that would be one heck of a occupation, but as I said, I am putting all I have into my collection and if that time comes, it comes, if it doesn't it doesn't, because I am just enjoying what I am doing. Sorry for the rambling, just don't make plans, be willing to learn more everyday, and don't neglect the animals you already have trying to grow too quickly. :salute:

What goes up, must come down. Supply and demand is like that. Economics will always drive out those that are ill-prepared for the long haul.

Like the PrototypePythons said, if you have time to invest in the game, it's possible to come out on top. I am adding "But not if you looking to get rich quick, willing to cut corners and do not do it legally (shipping, registration, tax..etc)"

You can basically tell which ones aren't going to stay in it because of the steps skipped (perhaps they think they can do those steps later) many don't know that how you start is how your name sticks in people's minds so if somoene is cutting corners and it shows, they usually won't last long.

Ultimately this causes those that aren't in it for the long haul to drop out and the supply decreases and the demand (as new customers come and more of them get old enough to be able to afford their desires) stablilizes or increases (can also decrease, but I don't think so).

So can you do it? I agree with PrototypePythons, don't expect to be able to support yourself right away. Have a job. Some breeders (me for example) work full time and breed part time. I Plan to do it full time after I retire. *I am still in the learning, gaining experience stage.*

want a good piece of advice? get into a TRADE, i have university educated friends and alot of plain high school educated friends, i never went to collage or university either and i make more than teachers or most university educated people , most of my friends who went into the trades, plumbers,electricians etc make waaay more than any of my university educated friends, only way university pays off is if your going to be a doctor, lawyer or get your BA to become a teacher, a high percentage of my friends in the trades make 85-90k a year OR MORE, the demand for skill labour is crazy right now, plus once you get fully done you can branch out and start your own gig

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Originally Posted by jeffjr464

want a good piece of advice? get into a TRADE, i have university educated friends and alot of plain high school educated friends, i never went to collage or university either and i make more than teachers or most university educated people , most of my friends who went into the trades, plumbers,electricians etc make waaay more than any of my university educated friends, only way university pays off is if your going to be a doctor, lawyer or get your BA to become a teacher, a high percentage of my friends in the trades make 85-90k a year OR MORE, the demand for skill labour is crazy right now, plus once you get fully done you can branch out and start your own gig

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That also depends on what type of trade you get in. I'm a Union Ironworker myself, and make $28/hour. Demand for Ironworkers is great, but its not for everyone. Not everyone is comfortable walking something as wide as a ruler (not length wise) at dwindling heights. Not many are comfortable building bridges, power plants, silos, skyscrapers, and mass buildings...

As well as that, the area (state/city), and the rate on renovation and construction will determine the need for that particular trade. Even the time of year will determine how booming construction is. The electricians here make around $5-6 more than we do, yet they're laid off throughout a lot of the year, where-as we're constantly busy. The Carpenters are pretty slow majority of the time to.

If you do decide to go for a trade skill; remember this... Its not what your getting paid, its your work ethics, attitude, and craftsmanship that keeps you working. If you're lazy, suck at your job, or plain just show yourself off as an oaf on the job site; your going to be laid off majority of the time and not many will want you on their job site. If your skilled, proficient, and professional about what you do, then you won't go hungry ;) Just to give an example...my first year in, I made $123,000...it wasn't just because of my wage rate ;)

get your BA to become a teacher:confused::weirdface:rofl: Teachers make no money.

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Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

Hey guys, I need some advice here. Let me explain my situation right now. I'm in my final year of high school. My plans for next year were to go to the university of Guelph for zoology. Just recently I recieved my midterm marks. I am sad to say, they are not university-worthy. I don't know what I will do if I don't get into university.

I would really love to become a professional reptile breeder. But I am just worried that its too late for someone like me. Every year more and more morphs are coming out and more and more prices are going down. Do you guys think that its possible for a kid like me to catch up to the big guys and actually make a living?

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Are you contemplating being a reptile breeder or exclusively a Ball Python breeder? This Morph pyramid thing seems to be a major concern with Ball Pythons but there are all kinds of reptiles to breed. As it has already been pointed out you would likely need another source of income while you built your breeding business.

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Originally Posted by AndrewH

That also depends on what type of trade you get in. I'm a Union Ironworker myself, and make $28/hour. Demand for Ironworkers is great, but its not for everyone. Not everyone is comfortable walking something as wide as a ruler (not length wise) at dwindling heights. Not many are comfortable building bridges, power plants, silos, skyscrapers, and mass buildings...

As well as that, the area (state/city), and the rate on renovation and construction will determine the need for that particular trade. Even the time of year will determine how booming construction is. The electricians here make around $5-6 more than we do, yet they're laid off throughout a lot of the year, where-as we're constantly busy. The Carpenters are pretty slow majority of the time to.

If you do decide to go for a trade skill; remember this... Its not what your getting paid, its your work ethics, attitude, and craftsmanship that keeps you working. If you're lazy, suck at your job, or plain just show yourself off as an oaf on the job site; your going to be laid off majority of the time and not many will want you on their job site. If your skilled, proficient, and professional about what you do, then you won't go hungry ;) Just to give an example...my first year in, I made $123,000...it wasn't just because of my wage rate ;)

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Priceless advice. If only I had read this earlier in life!!!!

One of the hardest lessons I have ever learned:

Find out what the market looks like for your trade, before you train for the trade! don't ask a recruitor. do hard core research for yourself.

Another option, if you don't want to get into a trade and have other plans in mind, start out at a community college... get your general ed credits done there and they can help you to make sure that what you are taking there will transfer and is what you need when you get into a university. I don't think that community colleges get enough credit really, way cheaper than university and it will help you to bring your GPA up (as long as you work hard) in order to be able to transfer/finish school in a university. But I would definitely say get your education or start out in a trade, even if or when you get into really breeding and selling snakes on a larger scale, I believe that it is always good to have something that you can fall back on just in case something happens. But good luck with whatever you decide!!

If you're crazy about reptiles I don't see why not. You have to obviously start a collection and have high quality pets (for the pets sake)
I went into a Trade for my profession of choice because I can't do University type work. I just can't sit in a school and work my ass off on things that really have no meaning, like redundant courses. I'm currently in a massage school and it's great. I think it's amazing and it's easy. 9 months and you're a licensed massage therapist. Awesome job, flexible hours, very peaceful, plus you could have your snakes in your office while you're at work!!!